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Christie in CZ
Participant
October 15, 2011
Question

Create a photo with a linear gradient transparency

  • October 15, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • 33511 views

Hello,

I cannot figure out how to add a transparent gradient to my photos in either Illustrator or Photoshop. Is there no "clear" setting I can add to a gradient?

Thanks!

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 15, 2011

    Christie,

    Steve may be out looking at the Northern Lights.

    You may:

    1) Select the image (the photo);

    2) Click with the Rectangle Tool somewhere on the Artboard and set the same W and H values (you can see them in the Transform panel);

    3) Place the rectangle exactly on top of the image (you may use the X and Y values from the Transform panel, or the Align panel centre aligning, or snap it (maybe using Smart Guides), or some other way);

    4) In the Toolbox (at the bottom) remove the stroke if any and click the Gradient Tab for the Fill (if the Document Colour Mode is RGB this is enough, otherwise set C=M=Y=K = 100%;

    5) In the Transparency panel flyout (upper right arrow) click Opacity Mask>Make, click Invert Mask.

      Kurt Gold
      Community Expert
      Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      October 15, 2011

      Which version of Illustrator are you using?

      Are you familiar with Opacity masks?

      C
      Christie in CZAuthor
      Participant
      October 15, 2011

      Hello,

      No I am not familiar with opacity masks, although I am trying to be!! I am

      using the trials of PS CS4 and Illustrator CS 5.1.

      I don't know which program I should use to do these tasks either. I need a

      jpg file to fade to transparency under another. Do you have any advice?

      Thanks,

      Christie

      Steve Fairbairn
      Steve Fairbairn
      Inspiring
      October 15, 2011

      I need a jpg file to fade to transparency under another.

      Do you mean you want one photo to blend smoothly into another?

      If so, you can do this easily in Illie with a gradient opacity mask on one of the images. This works in pretty much the same way as a gradient layer mask in Photoshop.

      You say JPG, so you should be working in RGB mode.

      If on the other hand you are working in CMYK you should take great care to use 100% of all 4 colours at the black end of the gradient in the opacity mask. If you use just K (or some other combination of CMYK colours) you may get unexpected colour results. You can of course also play with these unexpected results to achieve pleasing effects.

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